The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has launched Ligue1+, a new streaming platform it owns and operates, to broadcast French top-flight football starting from the opening matchday of the 2025/26 season. The move follows a turbulent period marked by repeated broadcasting failures and a sharp decline in the value of Ligue 1’s television rights.
Why is the LFP launching its own broadcaster?
The decision comes after a string of unsuccessful attempts to secure a stable, high-value broadcast partner for Ligue 1. Previous rights deals collapsed or underdelivered, causing revenue for French clubs to shrink dramatically compared to other major European leagues. Rather than continue relying on external broadcasters, the LFP chose to take direct control of distribution by building its own platform.
Ligue 1’s television income has fallen sharply after a series of failed broadcasting arrangements, prompting the league to take matters into its own hands, sources close to the league said.
What does Ligue1+ mean for fans and clubs?
For supporters, Ligue1+ becomes the primary way to watch Ligue 1 matches domestically from the season’s kickoff. For clubs, the platform represents an attempt to stabilize and eventually rebuild broadcasting revenue that has been eroded by years of rights-deal instability. By managing the platform in-house, the LFP aims to have greater control over pricing, distribution, and long-term commercial strategy rather than depending on third-party broadcasters whose commitments proved unreliable.
What comes next for Ligue 1 broadcasting?
The launch marks a significant shift in strategy for French football, moving away from traditional broadcast partnerships toward a self-managed streaming model. Its success will likely be measured by subscriber uptake and whether it can help restore the broadcasting revenues that Ligue 1 clubs have lost in recent seasons.
